Off the bench role a non-issue for Pasaol

MANILA - For the first time in UAAP Season 81, Alvin Pasaol came off the bench for University of the East.

The high-scoring forward did not enter their game against Far Eastern University until there was 6:27 left in the opening frame, with the Red Warriors trailing 11-6.

Pasaol would go on to play 28 minutes and 50 seconds. He finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals, along with a season-high plus-39. His finest moments came in the fourth quarter, when he scored a transition lay-up then knocked down a pair of triples to help the Red Warriors build a 34-point lead.

UE would go on to clobber FEU, 90-65, for their first win of the tournament. Afterward, Pasaol simply shrugged off concerns about him coming off the bench.

“Strategy ni Coach Joe (Silva) ‘yun,” the veteran forward said. “Maganda din 'yung strategy na off the bench ako, para pagdating ko, sabi nga ni Coach Joe, pagpasok ni Alvin, gutom na gutom na siya, ready na siya mag-laro.”

For Pasaol there was no difference whether he came off the bench or not; indeed it was something he got used to last year, as he used to come in as a reserve back when Derrick Pumaren was still calling the shots for UE.

The off-the-bench role even helped him, noted Pasaol, as he feasted on the opposing team’s second unit.

“Sobrang nakalaki rin ng tulong na off the bench yung pagpasok ko sa kanila. Buti naman kasi nabasa ko kung ano na yung gagawin ko pagpasok ko,” he said.

Silva said that there were plenty of advantages that came with Pasaol coming off the bench. For one, the forward still had plenty of energy in the endgame, and he was crucial to their second unit. The UE reserves outscored the FEU bench, 43-34, in the game.

“I (also) wanted to have a defensive mindset coming into the game, so I put a defensive five in. Not that Alvin doesn't play defense, but of course mas kailangan siya sa offense,” said Silva.

“With Alvin there, mas stable kami, I could easily put him after two minutes, after three minutes, after a minute. But the first group held the fort, credit to them,” he added.

“So it was easy for Alvin to come off that bench. And I want Alvin to read the game, para pagdating niya, alam niya kung saan siya aatake, pagpasok niya, alam niya kung ano ang gagawin niya.”

The strategy clearly worked against FEU. It took some time for Pasaol to get his rhythm -- he was only 4-of-11 from the field at the half -- but once he got going in the second half, he was unstoppable. He also got it done on defense, coming up with a season-high five steals.

Besides, whether he came off the bench or not, it was still Pasaol who got the highlight of the game: he mimed eating after drilling a three-pointer with 2:36 left to play, generating a round of applause from the UE gallery.

“Nagugutom na kasi ako,” said Pasaol, who was reportedly headed to a buffet with his teammates after the game.

There, they will relish their first victory of the season, but Pasaol is already looking forward to more. They will take on University of Santo Tomas next Saturday, and the Red Warriors will be brimming with confidence.

“Sobrang laki ng maitutulong this game,” said Pasaol. “Mabut nanalo kami ngayon, para tumaas ‘yung intensity level, tapos tumaas pa ‘yung confidence ng boys.”